All the signs are that life is returning to normal in Cairo; the army is promising a referendum on a quickie-constitution within 2 months, they’ve asked everyone to return to work,– and Egyptians seem to be heeding the call. Heck, they’ve even polished the brass statues around Cairo.

10% of Egypt’s income comes from tourism, so a lot of jobs and livelihoods depend on it. I reckon if you showed up at the pyramids, the only danger would be getting swamped by guides and souvenir sellers trying to shake your hand!

BUT – there’s always a ‘but’ isn’t there – as of right now, the Australian government is advising you DO NOT TRAVEL to Egypt. The Americans are saying the same thing, and the words they’re using are “unpredictable” and “volatile”.

The British are taking a slightly different tack: their advice to avoid Egypt during the recent troubles excluded the Red Sea resorts area around Sharm el Sheikh.They’ve now also excluded Luxor from their advice… they say the Nile River cruise hub was relatively free from trouble during the revolution and has now returned to normal….. although the word “unpredictable” pops up again.

But the Brits, like the Americans and the Aussies, are still advising against travel to all districts of Cairo, including Giza.

Governments will always err on the side of caution… imagine they said everyone was sweet to go, then trouble flared again. I don’t think the Tony Abbott excuse would work for them – plus they’d have to go and rescue a few thousand stranded tourists (again).

Plus there are consequences in insurance terms for a Do Not Travel warning. While the advice is in place Australian-based tour companies are obliged to cancel/postpone operations, so your tour won’t be going anyway.

If you decide to travel to Cairo independently regardless of the advice, you’ll be on your own. None of the regular travel insurance companies will sell you a policy for Egypt right now, because they figure you’re needlessly putting yourself at risk if you go there. If anything happens you’ll have contributed to the problem by going against good advice…. So ,sorry, no insurance cover. No cancellation cover, no medical evacuation
almost 8 years ago

By the way, on the day President Mubarak resigned a CBS 60 Minutes reporter became separated from her crew and security detail in Tahrir Square. She was badly beaten and sexually assaulted by a mob before being rescued by soldiers and women protesters. Which is why when we say you should avoid demonstrations and political protests we mean it.

Is Cairo ‘safe’ right now? You could go there and have a brilliant time – it’s certainly an exciting time in the country’s history – and return home without a scratch. But ‘safe’ is not the word I’d choose to describe the place right now…. I’m with the diplomats on this one, I think the word is “unpredictable”. But stay tuned, it could all change for the better really quickly.
almost 8 years ago

We were in Cairo on February 14. We hired a private driver to take us from the Sinai Peninsula. We had to go through a lot of military checkpoints before getting there, particularly just outside of Cairo, which made us a little nervous, but probably made things safer.

During our drive through Cairo, and on the way to the airport the next day, we never saw any violence. People seemed to be going about their business the same as usual. I think that experience made my wife feel a lot more comfortable in spending some time outside the hotel room, and I was able to convince her to go to Islamic Cairo, which she had had some serious reservations about doing.

Probably the most memorable experience that I had on that trip was when we walked around that area. We were greeted with a constant barrage of "Welcome to Egypt". People would come out of the coffee shops when they saw us and shake our hands. You could see that they were relieved to see that not everybody had abandoned their country.

At the same time, though, I think it would be naive to think that the city is without risks. I'm just sharing my experience with you.
almost 8 years ago

As I said just yesterday, things can change quickly.... Australia's foreign affairs office just downgraded its travel warning for Egypt by one notch. They now recommend "reconsidering your need to travel". This makes your insurance position a bit clearer (you will generally get coverage for future trips), but they warn the situation remains volatile. http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Egypt

Among other advice they recommend:We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Egypt because of the unsettled security situation and the high threat of terrorist attack.If you are currently in Egypt and hold concerns for your safety you should consider leaving. If you decide to remain in Egypt, you should exercise extreme caution. You should avoid all demonstrations and protests as they may turn violent and closely monitor media for information on events and developments that may affect your security and safety.Following violent demonstrations at locations across Egypt, including Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, ex-President Mubarak resigned and transferred power to the Armed Forces on 11 February 2011. The security situation remains unsettled and demonstrations could occur at any time.Register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency. If you need consular assistance, contact the Australian Embassy in Cairo on +20 2 575 0444 or the Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305.Australians are urged to take the security situation of roads into consideration when moving around Cairo. Foreigners have been detained and harassed at military and civilian checkpoints.International airports in Egypt are open, although some flights have been cancelled or rescheduled.The army is on the streets of the main towns. Arson and looting have occurred. The presence of civil police to maintain law and order remains uncertain. Self protection groups have formed in some areas.A curfew is currently in place between midnight and 6am. These hours are subject to change. You should respect curfew provisions and follow the advice of local authorities.
almost 8 years ago

Well right now, even though there is an ongoing protest in Tahrir and smaller protests in some Delta areas, Egypt is quite calm and safe. Certainly the pyramids area is VERY safe - I live within sight of these ancient wonders and there is never any disturbance around here. Tahrir and its peaceful demonstrations are more than 20 km away. I am happy to answer any specific questions.
over 7 years ago

Egypt is just fine now for travelers and tourists the only problem you would have is no downtown visits cause that's where lots of protests are. You can still go visit temples and pyramids, Nile, and even go to sharm al sheikh where it is really safe now, have a great time in Egypt and wish you a great time
over 7 years ago

It is strictly forbidden to climb the pyramids, though in the past it was permissible. The stones are huge and do not make for an easy climb even at lower levels. Some adventurous tourists who did make the attempt fell to their deaths, which is why the ban was imposed. Also, try to resist the camel-men here, because their only wish is to get you on the camel. Getting down is a totally different story. No matter how much money you want to give them is not enough, and you'll soon be screaming for help!Ask Aladdin is the best tour operator for Egypt? During my college time, I visit this country that time this famous travel agency help me a lot.
almost 4 years ago

All of the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.